Car roof



E. MAYHEW June 5, 1934.

CAR ROOF Filed Feb Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED] STATES 1,961,373 OAR ROOF Edward Mayhew, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Lelion Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 2s, 1931, serial Nb. 519,034

16V claims.'

This invention relates to roofs, and has been illustrated as embodied in the roof of a railway passenger car, although, of course, in many of its aspects it is suitable for a variety of other uses.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a roof formed in part at least of flanged U-shaped carlines, roof plates secured between these carlines, preferably Welded thereto, but not rigidly secured to each other, together with a onepiece covering of asphalt coated canvas or similar material which is preferably attached entirely externally so that it may be readily replaced without disturbing the interior lining of the car.' The metallic roong plates are preferably slightly 15 spaced apart in order that there maybe freedom 20 vention. In the past it has always been. considered necessary. that the top roof plates be overlapped and riveted togetherv withr closely spaced rivets. Each rivet furnisheda potential source'of leakage and corrosion. It was necessary 5. to use several separate roof plates, as a one-piece or Welded roof would buckle and rupture due to `the weaving of the car. By the present invention welding has been made practical, the` plates being welded to a flexible carlineinstead of each other. 'rms avoids the difficulties due to rivets and makes practical the use of a flexible covering. Another aspect of the invention makes the use of the flexible roofing entirely satisfactory, by providing for its attachment or replacement entirely from the Outside of the roof. The use of a flexible Waterproof covering so easily replaced prevents the rusting through of the roof plates, so that it is almost never necessary to repair the metal part of the roof. When it is necessary,` this can be 40 done'from the outside since there is no riveting, the drivingy of which would require tearing'out the headlining.

With these and various other objects in view, 'the invention may consist of certain `novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto. y i

In the drawing, which illustrate ank embodiment of the device, and wherein `like reference characters are used to designate like parts,

- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through my improved form of roofing,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view corresponding to (Cl. 10S-5.1)

Figure 1, of a modified fo-rm of the roof construction of this invention; and v Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1. p

Although my invention may take many forms, only one has been chosen for illustration, together with aslight modification thereof. The preferred embodiment is illustrated lin Figures 1 and 3. The lower deck of the car roof is supported by carlines 10 which maybe of any shape, but some 65- of them at least are preferably of the U-shaped type shown in Figure 3, having the flanges 12. Metallic roof plates 14 are secured to one flange of each of two adjacent U-shaped carlines. The roof plates are preferably not more than a third 79 of the length of the roof as a whole and extend the full height of the lower deck. These plates 14 may be spot .Welded to the flanges 12, and extended almost to the center of the carline so that the edges of two adjacent roof plates are slightly 7 5, spaced. Since the roof plates are neither abutting nor rigidly connected to each other, the flexing of the carlines provides the necessary play between the plates to prevent buckling and rupture due to the weaving of the car. It should be explained thatV when thecar goesaround a curve the outer side legs so that the car and roof are considerably distorted 'from their normally rectangular outline. In order to provide the utmost flexibility, the roof sheets are welded at just enough points to hold them securely to the frame, and are preferably not welded too close to the rigidly secured ends of the carlines where the flexibility of the` carlines is greatly reduced. Theymay be short enough -to just bridge each from'one carline to the next. 1

`On top of `the roof sheets there is'laid a layer 16'of padding material such as asphalt felt which however may be dispensed with if desired. On topof the layer of padding material is laid a layer 18 of flexible roofing material which is preferably in one piece the length ofthe car, or one piece for the entire deck. This material may Very desirably be canvas saturated-'and coated with asphalt. Novel features of vattaching the flexible roofing are provided whereby the roofing may be `attachedI andremoved by operations entirely external of the car, that is, without disturbing the head-lining 20 which forms the ceiling of the carinterior and which is secured in place in the usual manner, not shown. The flexible roofing is preferably secured :at the top to an inclined water table 24 which is secured to the upstanding portion of the roof between decks. The roofing is held inf place by an angle strip 26, the lower end 28 of which is curved so as not to injure the roofing and so located as to hold it close against the padding on the roof plates. The angle strip 26 is secured to the water table 24 by rivets 30, the roofing being secured between the angle strip and the water table. After the roofing has been secured at the top as thus described, it is pulled downwardly 'over the eaves until' it is kstretched tight and then it is secured in place by the pressure band 32 which is riveted by the rivets n34 to the eave angle 36. The eave angle 36 is Vprdvided with a long enough downwardly projecting iiange 38 so that the riveting may be performed entirely externally of the roof.; Instead of using the rivets 34 and the band32v a f'wo'o'denfeave strip 40 may be provided being either locked in place by its shape, or positively securedwas `by separate bolts passing through it`and`throu'gh1the frame of the car. If such a strip is used, the

covering is, securedthereto bythe screws' 42,`and a protectingband' may'be used -under the heads'.

In any event the edges'ofthe roofing :may 'be cemented in 'placethough 'this 'is not necessary.

The structure of the upper deck is substantially the same 'as 'that"'de`scr'ibed, including the flanged Ulsl'ia'ped carlines `43"^'and. roof plates '44, but theouter covering '45 vvis stretched'between two eaves "46 "'beingi preferably 'secured to each by the pressure ba'nd'48 'andthe rivets'50. A felt padding `51"sheuld`fbe provided' 'herefalsd All the Y rivets usedifcr yattaching Y:the "flexible roofing are cold driven. In' 'driving coldl rivets through the' 'asphalt treated fabric,l the'heat` genrivetfshank when'it cools. Y

From 'the vabove description iand vac'companying drawings l the 'ease with this` roof may` be repz'iired` is vapparent. "The covering `securing iivets'30, "3ft and '50n'iayall"bev rmovedand repiacedjwtn ease'entirdy"from'thef'dutside of the 'car'A for" the purpose' of renewing "the" flexible roofing; AAs' the "xib'le rOO'ig' is"'sub'stantially of' 'one piece and' thoroughly waterproof," the roof plates underneath will be extremelylonglived'and 'ordinarily 'willfneverhave t'obe replaced. l In the rare' eveitv that'it is necessary 'to'lrepla'cezthem the' operation' is 'quite simple. Afterf ripping' the oid dries onthe' newibnes-may befs'ecu'r'd byspot welding from outside, "so that in the' course vfjordia'ry repair of `the'-`roo'ng""it'is'nevernecessa-'ry to' te'ar'fout the: headiining "2'0 of "mei car.

'f-It is ""to v"be iiiiderstoodfthat" many4 otherv 'emb'odiinents'of` theiven'tio'n, "including "some in improved ferm, will "be "apparent, i and in "tlie course of time more will be devised by'thos'e skilled; in tnewfart. Iris "not 4`desired that-this inve ibn' Lira-limitedv to :thedetails 'dscib'edffor `-its s opeincludesiallsuch'formsor improve- 'ments' ascdme'vwitnin the" spint-of 'thefubwing claims, construed' as 'broadly "asthe prior artwll permit. "Especially -ity-"shouidjbe fno'ted'that the various' y'features of fthe "inven'tion' may*r be used independfentlyl of each' oth'er, I and the 'roof 'construction 'might' "be" quite different, even 'fto the vextent of riveting#the'platestogether;-thoughnf vcoiirse"irr'th'is' event "the rivets should be -well padded. I

y1-."`A roof 'including an internal' roof' having 'external ex'tersi'ons, a covering 'for' saidfint'ernal roof engagingsaid external extensions'andfriveted 'thereto 'by' rivetsV which'ar'e `replaceable entirely by external `operations, thefupper' edge 'of"'said covering being "secured 'solely l"by'such 'rivetsj and asphalt enough' 'to' naveit forma'se'al'around'the 'a'v'c'overing for said inclined portion secured to "`said"watershed.

4., A roof including portion and an upright A'izortion extending ther'eabove, a watershed projecting'fromlsaid'upright portion, and a flexible covering for said inclined portion secured to said watershed 5. A roof including an inclined portion and lanl'iliright portion extending thereabove, a watershed projecting froxn said upright'portion, aflexible covering for said inclined portion securedv to said watershed, andan angle strip secured to said watershed and pressingsaidcovering adjacent t'o said plates.

'65A roof including an internal frame, eaves extending-'therefrom beyond lthe'wa'lls -of the car, anda covering 'riveted'to said eaves byrivets which are replaceableexternally, and otherwise secured to 'said roof-solely'byl meansrwhich are replaceable externally.

7. A car' roof including ametallic supporting 'structure of sufficient strength vandsuiiicient continuity 'towitlistand 'all' forces to'which-'a roof `is ordinarily subjected, `a Aflexible vwaterproof vcovering, and means 'for securing said covering tosaid metallic roof structure, said means' exertinga clamping action along all the edges-oi` said' covering land Abeing externally replaceable.

4`8.^A car roof lincluding lameta'llic 'supporting structure'of sufficient strength and sufficient-con- Itinuity to "withstand 'all forces towhiclragroof is ordinarily subjected. a -flexible 'waterproof i coveringfrneans` for .securing said covering -to -said metallic roof structure,^said' vmeans exerting a clamping 'actionalongfall the'edges of said covering and' vbeing externally replaceable; and means for 'preventing leakage j at any `such vsecuring means on arr upper edge 'of said 'covering means. "9. Aroof including-an inclined portion, a-watershed'at 'the' Yupper edge tof; said inclined portion, ai flexible covering for A'said yinclined portion secured` to theunder side' of said water-shed; and anrangle'strip secured 'to said water-shedeand pressing saidv coveringfadjacent to said inclined portion, Y

10. Acar roofjincludingfa'metallic supporting `structure ofsuicient strength and sufficient continuity to; withstand lall forces -to` which afr'o'of ordinarily*subjected-a flexible substantially waterproof covering-and means vfor securing( said covering to said metallic roof structure, said means Iexerting a clamping action along the YVupper edge of said'covering andall securing means rivetsj exerting-a-clamping action along thefupper edge of said covering, allseouring meansbeing 'replaceable' externally.

12. A car roof including flexible U-shaped carlines the legs of which extend upwardly, and roofing plates spanning the space between the carlines, and having their edges slightly spaced apart above said carlines, said plates being welded to the upper portions of the respective carline legs, and a flexible waterproof covering over the surface of the roof.

13. A car roof including exible U-shaped carlines the legs of which extend upwardly, and roofing plates spanning the space between the carlines and having their edges so arranged above the carlines as to permit a slight relative shifting of said plates one to another, said plates being secured to the outer portions of the respective carline legs by means located wholly below the surface of the roofing plates, and a flexible waterproof covering over the surface of the roof.

14. A car roof including exible U-shaped carlines the legs of which extend upwardly, and roofing plates spanning the space between the carlines and having their edges so arranged above the carlines as to permit a slight relative shifting of said plates, one to another, said plates being secured to the outer portions of the respective carline legs by means located wholly below the surface of the roofing plates and at just enough points to secure them reliably to the carlines irof said plates one to another, said plates being secured to the upper portions of the respective carline legs at just enough points to secure them reliably to the carlines irrespective of water-tightness, and a flexible waterproof covering over the surface of the roof.

16. A car roof including flexible U-shaped carlines the legs of which extend upwardly, and roong plates spanning the space between the carlines and having their edges so arranged above the carlines as to permit a slight relative shifting of said plates one to another, said plates being secured to the upper portions of the respective carline legs at just enough points to secure them reliably to the carlines irrespective of watertightness and being secured along their top and bottom edges to longitudinal frame members at just enough points to secure them reliably to said frame members irrespective of water-tightness, and a exible waterproof covering over the surface of the roof. Y

EDWARD MAYHEW.

CERTIFIQATE 0F CQRREGHON.

Paent No. ,96l,373. Jun@ 5, 1.934

@WARD MAYHEW h is hereby cmied that errar appears in the pine spericain of the above numbered paient requiring correutou olow: Page, lm 82. im' "legs" read lags; page 2, line 89, sxam 4, after "nf;ludng insert am inclined; and that he said Letters Patent should be mud wh 'h'ese corsectwns therein that the same may anni Signed and seaied this 24th day of .uly, A. D. 1934.

Bryan M. Battey (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

erm to the reaord at the: case in the Patent Office. 

